Welcome to St. Gregory the Great, Fr. Cyril!

I am Fr. Cyril R. Albert Johnson (two last names! “Johnson” and “Albert”). And I am the new Parochial Vicar at St Gregory the Great Hamilton NJ. I would like to share a few more lines about myself and about my experiences as a parish priest here in the United States and at home in India. In our State in India, where we speak the Tamil language – our mother tongue – most of us don’t have last names. For passport purposes we carry our father’s name behind us as last names. My father’s name is Albert Johnson. So I ended up with Albert Johnson as my last names. So I am Cyril Robert Albert Johnson. My dad was a science and history lover and teacher. I was born on July 28, 1968 a few days after Robert Kennedy (RFK) was assassinated, which was world-wide news in those days. So I was given the name of “Robert” as well. My parents lost a newborn son before me (that infant was named “Cyril”). So I got my beloved brother’s name, which makes me very happy.

I joined the Seminary after my 8^th Grade to become a priest for my “home diocese” of Kumbakonam located in the South Indian State of “Tamil Nadu”. As a seminarian I finished my High School in a catholic School. Then I did my college Degree in History and Philosophy and finally Theology- all in Good Shepherd Seminary, Coimbatore. I was ordained on April 11, 1994. So this year is my 30 years of serving as a priest. After being a young and newly ordained priest and associate pastor in three different parishes in India (for a year each in each of those parishes), I served as a pastor in two parishes (six years at one parish and seven years at the other). This is how my diocese does these things in India. To learn pastoral ministry a newly ordained priest is appointed for a year in each parish for three to five years. If you are a pastor in a parish or an administrator in an institution the term is six years. No matter who you are or where you are, any priest will be moved after six years in the Diocese of Kumbakonam. In 2010 I wanted to have a different pastoral experience in a different culture and in a different country. So I applied to serve in Kenya or Brazil or the USA. As I was first invited here in our Diocese of Trenton , I served as parochial vicar at Keyport NJ, with Fr. Ron Cioffi from 2010 July to 2016 June. I was called back to my home diocese in 2016 (there is a great need for more priests at home in India just as there is here in the U.S.A). I served as a pastor in Periyavarseeli parish for six years before coming back to the Trenton Diocese in July 2022 at St. Michael’s, Long Branch to serve with Fr John Butler.

Both of my parents, who were elementary school teachers, are with God in eternal rest. I have one older brother and two younger brothers, all living in my home District and State with their respective families. Each brother has two children. In our region of South India, 8 to 10% of the populations are Roman Catholics from the year 1550 AD. Our forefathers were converted by Jesuit Missionaries. My village is predominantly Catholic but we do have Lutherans, Hindus, and Muslims living very peacefully with us. There are nine priests and 22 nuns from my village parish. Eight became priests for our home diocese. One of those nine young men is a Gunelian religious priest. Very recently (only on April 17, 2023) one of my cousins from my village was ordained as a priest for our diocese. Those 22 nuns I mentioned are serving in several different religious orders. My aunt Sister Rosary – who is deceased – was the first nun from my village and we are very proud of her and we feel her influence and her prayers every day.

I am happy to be in St Gregory the Great Parish Hamilton with Fr Michael Hall. Looking forward to another faith filled spiritual experience at St Gregory’s I begin my ministry here.

7/1/2023